e-communiquéIssue 49

July-August 2015

APAN Announcement 1APAN Calendar of Activities 3

Recent Climate Change Adaptation Events 4

CCA Information Resources and Knowledge Products 4

Opportunities 8

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Welcome to the platform that gives you up-to-date information on climate change adaptation activities happening in the region. This monthly newsletter is brought to you by APAN – a leading climate change adaptation network working across the Asia‐Pacific region. Through this E‐Communique and other activities, APAN is mobilizing knowledge and building capacities for climate resilience.

We are happy to spotlight your climate change adaptation activities, announcements, events and new initiatives. To be featured in our newsletter, all you have to do is send a brief write-up and a web link toinfo@asiapacificadapt.net

APAN ANNOUNCEMENT

Regional training workshop for journalists: strengthening reporting on adaptation to climate change for relevant policy approaches, 28 September – 3 October 2015, Nepal

This 6‐day training workshop is initiated by the Himalayan Climate Change Adaptation Programme (HICAP). The workshop is aimed at journalists from China, India, Nepal and Pakistan with the objective to improve creative thinking, scientific accuracy and effective communication on climate change adaptation with a focus on water, food security, ecosystem services, vulnerability and the role of women in a local and national context. By the end of the workshop, journalists will have prepared relevant stories ready for publication and shared these with the facilitators. After the workshop, three participating journalists will be awarded with a grant for developing other stories. For more information, visit: http://www.icimod.org/?q=18884

Regional media training workshop: air pollution, its sources and impacts, and mitigation options, 16 -20 November 2015, Nepal

This 4‐day workshop is part of the Atmosphere Initiative by ICIMOD under the Regional Programme on Cryosphere and Atmosphere, wherein journalists from member countries will learn about regional air pollution, its sources and impacts, atmospheric processes, mitigation options and policy options with specific relation to the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region. By the end of the workshop, participants will share story ideas and exchange views with other participants, facilitators and scientists and discuss the scientific accuracy. For more information, visit: http://www.icimod.org/?q=18897

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Water and Climate Resilience Programme (WACREP) of Global Water Partnership South Asia (GWP SAS)

The Water and Climate Resilience Programme (WACREP) is a landmark initiative of Global Water Partnership South Asia which provides planning support to government agencies for better use of water. The WACREP Phase 1 was initiated in October 2013 and continued until March 2015. Some of its achievements include training 13,000 field staff from different sectors in 140 training programme, completed 69 demonstration projects supporting 20,000 villagers, and others. To continue these efforts, WACREP Phase 2 has been initiated in January 2015. For more information, visit: http://www.gwp.org/gwp-south-asia/WACREP/

The Exchange Series ‘Live’ online chat – Climate Change Adaptation Priorities in Asia-Pacific

Dr. Peter King, Adaptation Project Preparation and Finance Team Leader, USAID Adapt Asia‐Pacific, and Lee Baker, Chief of Party, USAID Adapt Asia‐Pacific, hosted a ‘live’ online chat event on “Climate Change Adaptation Priorities in Asia‐Pacific” that was joined virtually by around 25 participants from Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the UK and the US. For the full transcript of the chat, visit: http://www.asiapacificadapt.net/content/live-online-chat-what-are-your-adaptation-priorities

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Regional hands-on training on community-based flood early warning system at ICIMOD, 8-12 June 2015, Nepal

The 5-day training brought together 16 participants from Afghanistan, India and Nepal. The training imparted comprehensive technical and theoretical knowledge about flood early warning systems in general, and focused on wireless flood early warning systems in particular – a community‐based flood early warning system (FEWS). Through ‘learning‐by‐doing’ approach, participants would be able to setup, install and teach the villagers back home to adopt the new technology. For more information, visit: http://www.icimod.org/?q=18558 and http://lib.icimod.org/record/29636/

APAN CALENDAR Of ACTIvITIES

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National and Regional Consultation Workshops for the project Strengthening Implementation of Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA), 6-8 July 2015, PhilippinesThis 2-day workshop brought together representatives of the Department of Agriculture (DA) from 15 Regional Field Offices (RFOs) and 17 key officials from the DA Central Office. During the workshop, participants were given the opportunity to learn more about the different components of the AMIA‐Project 1 and to sit down with component leaders to discuss further working arrangements for the workshops and interviews that will be conducted in the field. For more information, visit: http://www.searca.org/index.php/news-and-events/searca-news/2152-searca-uplbfi-conduct-national-and-regional-consultation-workshops-for-da-amia-project-1 This publication focuses on the importance of

involving children to actively participate, learn and contribute to build their adaptive capacity in the context of climate change adaptation. Plan International’s Child Centred Climate Change Adaptation (4CA) program supports children and their communities by increasing awareness and education on how to manage risks, exploring together what kind of actions will help build capacity and resilience, and teaching children to become advocates and leaders on climate change adaptation in their community and region. The publication also provides examples and studies of steps taken at the different levels which involve children’s contribution to manage and reduce risks associated with climate change. For more information, visit: https://www.weadapt.org/sites/weadapt.org/files/plan4ca_brochure_2015_webversion_0.pdf To watch a video, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd2Ly7LltaM&feature=youtu.be

Act to Adapt: The next generation leads the way!

RECENT CLIMATE ChANGE ADAPTATION EvENTS

Integrating Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) into Policies, Plans and Programs in Agriculture: A training workshop, 4-7 August 2015, PhilippinesThis training workshop was attended by 23 representatives of the Department of Agriculture‐Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (DA‐AMIA), DA regional filed offices (RFOs) and other attached agencies. The aim of the training workshop was to enhance participants to understand climate change impacts and the need for mainstreaming; identify appropriate approaches for integrating climate change adaptation into development policies and investment plans at the national, sectoral, and project levels; and apply the systematic planning steps to selected cases in agriculture and fisheries towards developing flagship applications of climate proofing. For more information, visit: http://www.searca.org/index.php/news-and-events/searca-news/2175-da-amia-team-reps-and-da-rfo-focal-persons-learn-systematic-climate-change-mainstreaming-method

CCA INfORMATION RESOURCES AND kNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS

PUbLICATION

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Designing a monitoring and evaluation system for climate change adaptation planning and implementationThis publication goes through the process of designing a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) System which is based on the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Climate‐smart Agriculture Sourcebook. The steps in the preparation and appraisal of the planning process, developing indicators using the SMART criteria and its related parameters, and the challenges faced related to climate change impacts and adaptation assessment, monitoring and evaluation are all briefly described. For more information, visit: http://climatechange.searca.org/index.php/climate-change-adaptation-knowledge-showcases-5/adaptation-notes/2390-designing-a-monitoring-and-evaluation-system-for-climate-change-adaptation-planning-and-implementation

This report highlights the mission and strategies of Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) to promote climate compatible development policies and practices to assist those most affected by climate change. The report also outlines the current climate change scenario and CDKN’s work in different countries around Asia – Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal and Pakistan – along with possible opportunities and its country strategy for the future. For more information, visit: http://cdkn.org/resource/brochure-raising-the-bar-cdkn-in-asia/?loclang=en_gb

Raising the bar – CDkN in Asia

Assessing vulnerability of coastal fishers in the Philippines to climate change impacts: Tools for understanding resilience of fisheries (VA-TURF)This tool is developed by local marine scientists at the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines Diliman which aims to identify vulnerable fishing communities and demonstrate how to link vulnerability assessment results to site‐specific climate change adaptation strategies to alleviate potential climate change impacts on fisheries. Assessment is highly participatory which allows validation of results and decision-making for local adaptation strategies. The target end‐users of this tool are local stakeholders. For more information, visit: http://climatechange.searca.org/index.php/climate-change-adaptation-knowledge-showcases-5/adaptation-notes/2391-assessing-vulnerability-of-coastal-fisheries-in-the-philippines-to-climate-change-impacts-tool-for-understanding-resilience-of-fisheries-va-turf

This report describes the impacts of climate change in Pakistan, making it amongst the world’s most vulnerable countries. After facing major disasters, the government, business and civil society in Pakistan have collaborated with the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) to find more proactive approaches to planning and preparing for climate-related disasters and finding opportunities to develop in a holistic way. For more information, visit: http://cdkn.org/resource/outlook-pakistan-special-edition/

Pakistan – learning to live with climate change

TOOL

REPORTS

WORkING PAPERS

After working with developing countries prepare their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) has summarized, in this working paper, key learning points that have emerged from the varied experiences faced. For this, individuals in the different countries were interviewed on the process of developing INDCs. The aim of this working paper is to provide a greater insight for other countries developing their own INDCs and to understand the key challenges of striking a balance between ambition and feasibility. For more information, visit: http://cdkn.org/resource/supporting-indcs-lessons-learned/

Supporting ambitious Intended Nationally Determined Contributions: Lessons learned from developing countries

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The impact of climate change on achievement of the post-2015 Sustainable Development GoalsApproaching the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21), governments will have to agree on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the period to 2030 and a new global climate agreement. This policy brief discusses the relationship between the level of ambition in SDGs and the global climate agreement. The information will provide better understanding and quantitative evidence on the implications of the outcome of the climate agreement on SDGs to the governments and to the COP21. For more information, visit: http://cdkn.o r g / r e s o u r c e / p o l i c y - b r i e f - c l i m a t e - a n d -sdgs/?loclang=en_gb

Water harvesting for climate resilience – the Maharashtra storyThis video documents the story of the Marathawada region in the state of Maharashtra, India. The video describes the simple techniques used by institutions and communities in the dry land areas of the Marathawada region to store water thereby reducing vulnerability and increasing resilience when hit by droughts. For more information, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxkDYvtweEE

CCA INfORMATION RESOURCES AND kNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS

The policy brief is an extension to The Energy and Resources Institute’s (TERI) year‐long study, as part of USAID’s Climate Change Resilient Development (CCRD) ‐ Climate Adaptation Small Grants Program, which looked at sea level rise (SLR) and other climate parameters such as storm surges and extreme rainfall on infrastructure and services of coastal cities. The paper explains the current framework for infrastructure planning and possible entry points to accommodate resilience in infrastructure planning, which includes planning and finance, technical assessments, updating current regulations and institutions, and increasing capacity building and awareness on know-how to deal with extreme climate events. For more information, visit: http://www.teriin.org/policybrief/index.php?a=21

Towards a policy for climate resilient infrastructure and services in coastal cities

POLICy bRIEfS

fILM

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Traditional coping systems for climate resilience; Examples from north east IndiaThis video shares success stories of using indigenous and traditional knowledge to slow down and adapt to climate change in the Meghalaya region, north east India. Examples of community‐based and community-led adaptation measures using indigenous or traditional knowledge in areas of water harvesting, fish conservation, and forest conservation. For more information, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKJro1tcag0

One meter above: Maldivians’ battle against climate change

This article collates stories of locals and their fight against climate change in areas of water shortage, integrated water resource management, floods, disaster risk, tourism and climate change, waste management, coastal erosion, etc. For each area, descriptions of projects that have been initiated in Maldives are described. For more information, visit: https://undp-adaptation.exposure.co/64bec06da45f7a3a0cff9d9139dc2fc0?slow=1

for a safer future – Insights on climate resilience from IndiaThis video is based in the Gorakhpur district in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India where 70% of the population are sustained by agriculture. The video emphasizes how the district has learned to live with floods, as pre‐disaster, disaster and post‐disaster periods have merged causing authorities, civil society and farming communities to incorporate climate change issues in disaster preparedness plans. For more information, visit: http://cdkn.org/2015/08/film-for-a-safer-future-insights-on-climate-resilience-from-india/?loclang=en_gb

Greening the dry zone – Conserving land while improving water access and food security in MyanmarThe article shares a story of a Burmese family living in Myanmar’s ‘Dry Zone’. The article describes the daily struggle for communities living in the Dry Zone to obtain water and its effects on the communities. It also shares efforts taken by UNDP to secure water and reduce food insecurity through community-based and community-driven adaptation measures. For more information, visit: https://undp.exposure.co/greening-the-dry-zone

ARTICLE

LEAD Pakistan’s work on climate change adaptationThis article lists out adaptation activities carried out by LEAD Pakistan, specifically dealing with issues related to resilience and vulnerability, water, energy and food security and their efforts in public policy engagement, project design and implementation, training and capacity building, and research and analysis. For more information, visit: http://cansouthasia.net/lead-pakistans-work-on-climate-change-adaptation/

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Local Innovation and experimentation for climate change adaptationThis article briefly explains the strategy adopted by the Institute of Himalayan Environmental Research and Education (INHERE). The strategy involves looking at farmers own resources and innovation in solving problems resulting from uncertain climate events. Learning from farmer‐led innovations to adapt to a changing climate along with scientific research and disseminating of these results prove to have great potential for many farmers that struggle with similar problems. For more information, visit: http://cansouthasia.net/local-innovation-and-experimentation-for-climate-change-adaptation/

Climate action – Learning through play!Two games have been developed by Plan International Asia and Red Cross Climate Centre related to climate change adaptation for children in Asia. Act to Adapt is a participatory game that teaches the youth to understand climate change impacts and to explore idea what they and their communities can do to reduce the risks. Invest in the Future is an interactive game which combines story-telling and strategy to portray the importance of including climate change to make sustainable development investment decisions. For more information, visit: http://climatecentre.org/resources-games/games-overview

The village that banned seawallsThis article describes a successful ecosystem-based adaptation initiative carried out by local villagers in Abaiang, Kiribati. The villagers decided to remove all seawalls that were built along the shoreline as they were accelerating rate of erosion and replace them with brush structures made from local materials. With funding from USAID and Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), sites in Kiribati using this ecofriendly method are showing substantial improvement. For more information, visit: http://www.sprep.org/climate-change/the-village-that-banned-seawalls Strengthening risk

management approaches in bangladeshTo build on Climate and Development Knowledge Network’s (CDKN) initial understanding of loss and damage associated with extreme climate in Bangladesh in the context of climate risk management, CDKN is now looking for technical supplier/consortium to support the Bangladesh Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) in a new project to understand the issue at the national level and to set up a national mechanism within the current MoDMR structure to deal with loss and damages. The deadline for application is 18th September 2015. For more information, visit: http://cdkn.org/2015/08/opportunity-national-support-on-loss-and-damage/?loclang=en_gb

GAME

OPPORTUNITIES

APAN PArtNers

July-August 2015

Format and Layout by Ric Dennis A. Canullas (RRC.AP)

e-mail: info@asiapacificadapt.net Website: www.asiapacificadapt.net